| IHRSA Report | In Brief W


Making Sure Your Facility is ADA- Compliant


hen a prospective member comes through your front door in a wheelchair, is your facility ready to meet that individual’s needs? Are your equipment and pool areas accessible? Is your staff aware of the club’s responsibility to accommodate a person with a disability?


The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was originally passed in


1991, prohibits businesses from discriminating against people with disabilities. Since its passage, the health club industry, like many industries, has often struggled to determine just what the ADA requires. The newly released 2010 Standards for Accessible Design help to clarify a


health club’s responsibilities under the ADA. Although the standards apply only during design, construction, additions to, and alteration of facilities, it’s important to note that existing, non-altered facilities are also responsible for making reason- able or readily achievable accommodations in many cases. Enforcement of the new standards will begin March 15, 2012.


Exercise machines and equipment The 2010 standards require newly constructed or altered health clubs to provide accessible routes to exercise equipment and machines, and to ensure that at least one of each type of machine (e.g., treadmill, stairclimber, bench press) is adjacent to “clear floor space.”


Accessible routes are generally 36" wide, which would


accommodate a wheelchair, but there are exceptions. “Clear floor space” is defined as an area no less than 30" x 48". The standards offer the following advisory regarding “clear floor space:” One clear floor or ground space is permitted to be shared


between two pieces of exercise equipment. To optimize space use, designers should carefully consider layout options, such as connecting ends of the row and center aisle spaces. The position of the clear floor space may vary greatly depending on the use of the equipment or machine. For example, to pro- vide access to a shoulder press machine, clear floor space next to the seat would be appropriate to allow for transfer. Clear floor space for a bench press machine designed for use by an individual seated in a wheelchair, however, will most likely be centered on the operating mechanisms.


Swimming pools, wading pools, and spas The standards require accessible means of entry for newly


constructed or altered swimming pools, wading pools, and spas. Larger pools (300 or more linear feet) must have at least two accessible means of entry, one of which must be a sloped entry or a pool lift. Smaller pools must have at least one accessible means of entry, one of which must be a sloped entry or a pool lift. Wading pools are required to have at least one sloped entry in the deepest part of the pool. Spas also must have an accessible means of entry (e.g., pool lift, a trans- fer wall, or a transfer system). When located in clusters, at least 5% of the spas must be accessible.


Saunas and steam rooms The standards include requirements for providing accessible turning space and an accessible bench in newly constructed or altered saunas and steam rooms. Notably, areas in the path of a swinging door may not be considered clear floor or ground space for the accessible bench. —|


.gov 106 Club Business Internat ional | JANUARY 2011 |


The complete 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design may be downloaded at www.ADA.gov. You may also send questions on the ADA Standards to IHRSA’s Public Policy team at gr@ihrsa.org.


www. ihrsa.org


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130